Michigan

Wash, rinse, repeat: Bullpen blows another save

AP PhotoDetroit's Gary Sheffield rounds the bases after one of his two home runs during the Tigers' loss to Toronto on Tuesday night.

DETROIT -- All the elements for victory were there -- save one.

Zach Miner out-pitched A.J. Burnett over the first six innings Tuesday night, and Gary Sheffield nailed a pair of solo homers. Magglio Ordonez hit another one out.

But then the call went out to the bullpen, and the air came out of the Detroit Tigers.

Joel Zumaya blew his fourth save of the season by failing to get any of the five batters he faced with two outs in the seventh inning. The 4-1 lead turned into a 6-4 loss, with the Toronto Blue Jays adding an insurance run in the ninth.

"You've got to shut that game down," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "It was set up perfecto for us.

"It's a shame because Zach was tremendous, and Sheff had a great night, a terrific night."

But it all went up in smoke as the Tigers failed for the 21st time in 45 opportunities to convert a save. Only the Texas Rangers, with 22 blown saves, have let more games get away in the American League.

It started with Bobby Seay giving up two hits in the seventh, and leaving for Zumaya with two out, one on and a 4-2 lead.

"It's just not going away right now," Seay said. "I came in and just didn't get the job done."

Then Zumaya gave up a single to Marco Scutaro to score run, walked Alex Rios and gave up a two-run double to Vernon Wells. Matt Stairs was intentionally walked before Rod Barajas walked. That was it for Zumaya, and Kyle Farnsworth got the final out.

Zumaya left to a chorus of boos.

"It's tough because he's got such a big heart," Seay said. "It's bush league to get treated like that."

Leyland said he felt Zumaya, who has been back with the Tigers for nearly eight weeks after rehabilitating from reconstructive shoulder surgery, was not right physically. He was examined after the game and was not available for comment.

The most telling batter for Zumaya was Rios. He got ahead of him, 1-2, and then missed with a pair of breaking balls before walking him.

"He just doesn't have a good feel for the breaking ball," Leyland said. "He's just not ready for this -- injured or whatever, he's just not right."

Miner, who allowed a solo homer to Adam Lind and no other runs for his fourth quality start in five outings since moving into the rotation from relief, could relate.

"I've been in that spot before," Miner said. "It's just one of those things."

He left with a three-run lead, but Burnett (15-9) ended up getting the win.

Sheffield crushed a pair of homers, giving him 492 for his career and 1,611 RBIs. He passed Hall of Fame left fielder Goose Goslin, who played for Detroit 1934-37, to break their tie for 28th on the RBIs list. And he now is one homer behind his good friend, Fred McGriff, and legend Lou Gehrig for a three-way tie for 25th place in homers.

TRACKING THE TIGERS

Tuesday's game: Joel Zumaya had his fourth blown save in five chances, and a strong start by Zach Miner and two homers by Gary Sheffield went to waste in a 6-4 loss to Toronto.

Record: 58-61

Injury possibilities: Third baseman Carlos Guillen came out in the eighth inning with lower back tightness, and Zumaya was examined after the game to check for any physical problems.

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reported Tuesday that Sheffield was among several Tigers placed on waivers. Big league teams do this as a course of business after the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline passes.

Players in August trades must be placed on waivers and have every other team in the majors pass on them before the trade can be completed. If a player is claimed in that process, the team with the player on waivers has 48 hours to make a deal with the lowest team in the standings who claims them.

Players are on waivers for a specified amount of time, and other teams would have until Thursday afternoon to place a claim on Sheffield. He is under contract with the Tigers for $14 million next season, and that will make him difficult to deal.

But if a waiver trade possibility comes about, he said he would look at it because he has a limited no-trade clause in his contract that allows him some say.

"Anybody would love a good opportunity if it presents itself," Sheffield told Booth Newspapers last week.